LOS ANGELES - With sluggish starts costing his team two of their last three games, Dwane Casey has considered making a change to the lineup ahead of Friday nights contest against the Clippers. The Raptors have been outscored 88-66 in the opening quarter over a three-game span to begin the month of February. Their most recent loss, 109-101 in Sacramento on Wednesday, was eerily similar to Saturdays defeat at the hands of the Trail Blazers. After digging themselves an early hole on both nights, the Raptors were unable to close out late-game comeback bids, forcing Casey to question his first units disposition. "Every team has their cross to bear and ours is starting games," he said after practice Thursday afternoon. "Whether weve got to change the lineup to start the game or whatever, I dont know we have to see." "Thats been our problem and it just didnt start [in Sacramento Wednesday], its been going on for a while. Weve been able to dig out of it but you cant get hit like that and expect to bounce back that way every game, it just takes too much of a toll on your body." In many ways the Raptors have been defeating themselves. Over that three-game stretch they held opponents to 43 per cent shooting in the first quarter, an impressive mark, but the hustle stats tell a different story. Toronto was out-rebounded in the opening 12 minutes of each game and put both Portland and Sacramento on the line 12 times. "We addressed it, we talked about it," Casey said, citing his teams focus, toughness and attention to detail. If Casey does opt to shake up his starting lineup in Los Angles, even temporarily, the most likely casualty would be slumping California-native Amir Johnson. Johnson has been hampered by a sore right ankle after turning it late in last weeks win over Orlando. He has logged fewer than 20 minutes in just six games this season, yet three of those have come in the last four contests. The forward has been Torontos most reliable and valuable player over the last three years but its clear he hasnt been himself, even before his most recent injury. After averaging 13.8 points and 8.3 rebounds on 63 per cent shooting in December, Johnsons production dropped last month, scoring 9.5 points and grabbing 6.0 rebounds a night. His 47 per cent field goal shooting in January was his lowest in a full month since March of 2011. As a team the Raptors surrendered 11 points more than they scored with Johnson on the floor in the month. Johnson, who routinely tops the team in the plus/minus stat, was the only Raptor (minimum 50 minutes) that was a net-minus in January, per NBA.com/stats. Mired in a similar slump, and with the team struggling late in November, Johnson was pulled from the starting lineup in favour of Tyler Hansbrough (Johnson told the Toronto Sun that he had requested a move to the bench). Johnson would go on to play his best basketball of the season over the following nine games, averaging 18.0 points and 9.6 rebounds on 68 per cent shooting, and getting his starting job back after three games when Hansbrough went down with an ankle injury. Poised to make a run at the playoffs, the Raptors need Johnson, a nine-year veteran, healthy and focused late in the season. Another temporary demotion could be in the best interest of both the Raptors and their best defensive player. Although Hansbrough could be a candidate to replace him should a change be made, without disrupting the chemistry of the second unit, he has fallen out of Caseys regular rotation since returning from injury. Patrick Patterson would seem to be the most logical choice. Often the first player of Torontos bench, Patterson has been consistently effective since coming over in the trade from Sacramento in December. The forward has scored in double figures in 12 of his last 20 games, averaging 11.1 points and 5.5 rebounds, shooting 52 per cent from the field and connecting on 17 of his 35 attempts from three-point range over that stretch. The Raptors have outscored opponents by 132 points when hes been on the floor during that span. Wholesale NMD R1 . Henrik Samuelsson and Luke Bertolucci also scored for the Oil Kings, who are now 9-0 on home ice in the playoffs to cut Portlands series lead to 2-1. Chase De Leo and Mathew Dumba responded for the Winterhawks, who suffered just their fourth loss in their last 46 games, a string of success running all the way back to Jan. Ultra Boost Australia Online . - The New Orleans Saints have re-signed receiver Joseph Morgan for one year and have agreed to a four-year deal with free agent fullback Erik Lorig. http://www.nmdaustraliasale.com/. - The Green Bay Packers got back to work on Friday without star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Ultra Boost 2019 Australia . "Last year we were in a ton of situations, late-game situations we couldnt pull out. Wed kind of fold under the pressure, get frustrated or let a big shot frustrate us," guard DeMar DeRozan said. Adidas Superstar Black Australia .com) - Avery Bradley scored 21 points and the Boston Celtics beat the Brooklyn Nets, 89-81. The Winnipeg Goldeyes manager Rick Forney announced today the signing of infielder Tyler Kuhn to a contract for the 2014 season. Kuhn, 27, played 111 games last season at the Class AA and Class AAA levels. In 61 games in the Colorado Rockies system with Class AA Tulsa of the Texas League, he hit .233 with a home run and 22 RBI. He started the year in the Arizona Diamondbacks system and batted .244 with a home run and 11 RBI in 50 games with Class AAA Reno of the Pacific Coast League. He was in spring training with the Rockies earlier this month. “Were thrilled to have another experienced player added to our team and another left-handed bat,” Forney said. “Hes a career .295 hitter that has a lot of doubles and stolen bases. He has a lot of versatility to play multiple positions on the field, which certainly is attractive to us.” Kuhn, who has played both corner outfield positions, second and third base and shortstop during hiss career, had a banner campaign in 2011 in the Chicago White Sox organization with Class AA Birmingham of the Southern League.dddddddddddd He finished second in the league with a .341 batting average, third in on-base percentage with .401 and third in triples with 10. Following the season, he was named the best hitter for average in the White Sox organization by Baseball America. After being drafted in the 15th round of the 2008 MLB amateur draft by the White Sox, Kuhn played five seasons in their system. He was traded to Arizona in 2012 for cash considerations and joined the Rockies last June after being released by the Diamondbacks. He has played the last four seasons at Class AA or Class AAA. The Goldeyes now have 24 players signed for the 2014 season, including 12 pitchers and 12 position players. The Goldeyes will open training camp for the 2014 season on Saturday, May 3 at Shaw Park as part of the teams annual Open House event. ' ' '